Apparatus for maintaining constant heat value



I H F. SMITH. APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING CONSTANT HEAT VALUE. v

APPLICATION FILED MAR. m. 1918.

-. 7, I Pa-tented May 30,1922

' iSHEETS-SHEETI.

[Hz/EJ722711 #pv 5 Am Q W WW H. F.-S'MITH. APPARATUS FOR MAINTAININGCONSTANT HEAT VALUE.

APPNLICATION FILED MAR. II, 1918.

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JIQ 'J 'vwli m W N HARRY a. mm, 01?

To all whom it concern: I Be it known that I, HARRY F. SMITH, a

citizen of the United States, residing. at

exington, in the county of 'Richland and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forMaintaining-Constant Heat Value, of which Y of th ,mumefiiciency andconstant I dition's because offluctuationsin the-heat valueof' the gas.These fluctuations of heat value inay arise from a-number' of different1n many cases the following is a fulLclea-r, andexact description.

This invention relates to gas regulation and more particularly to theregulation of gas for-. I naintai ning a constant heatva-lue therein.

When gas is used for either fuelor power purposes, it is very diflicultto secure maxi-' operating con caus'es. Where natural gas. isused,-forinstance, such fluctuations are always attendant 'upon 'variatlons- 1nthe pressure of the ga s. Also, where an artificial gas, such asproducer gasis used, such fiuctuations'will occur because of variationsin the pressure e gas, and in addition because of variations within thegenerating chamber itself which give rise to variationsin the, characterof gas generated. Obvio to'secure constant temperature'conditions. Ifthe gas being-used isof uniform character so far as; the--chem1ca1-,composition thereof 1s concerned,:.1n' other.

words if the heatvalue of that per unit volume remains constant, it isquite easy to secure uniform temperature '-c"onditions by simplyinsurmg'a unlform the combustion zone. value of the 1 of flow of gas tothe. pointof combustion problein of maintaining uniform tempera- .willnot insure a uniformtemperatur'e,'inasmuch ,as the heat'of combustionwith variations in the heat valueof thegas.

If a gas-is supplied inwhich theheat value per unit volume. ismaintained constant, the

j ture' conditions is obviously solved.

Oneobject of the present invention is to provide "a-m ethod for,insuring' ajconstant heatf value 11; natural gas, u producer gas orom'atic .in its ioperation, i'sinexpenslve {an LEXINGTON, omo,

' THE GAS RESEARCH COMPANY, OF DAYTON,

Application filed March 11, leis. Serial No.

" tra'ted a constant .h'eat value usly it is desirable of the inventiflow of gastd; If, however, the heatf.--' gas is a variable quantity, itis- )bvious that maintaining a constailtvoliimel :m'e'ans limited intreatment of some particular kind of gase.-' will. vary rm of gaseousfuel, ';andfmeans j effect,'-fwhich worked out especia with a suctionsubstantial v in structure, is

ASSIGNOR," Br MESNE assreummrrs,

01110, A CORPORATION OEO HIO.

'arranarusron mmramms cons'ram HEAT VALUE. I Specification of LettersPatent.

easily maintained in repair and is yet thor: oughly practlcablein itsapplication.

11 carrying this inventionv into effect I i provide a valve controlledleak in the main throughhwhich tions in the heat value of the gasitself.

In the accompanying d' 1n out my invention, each form being'adapte forso controlling the admission of air,"

or other diluting fluid, to the gas main that is maintained in the gas.I In the drawing, acters throughout the-several views thereof,

insuring constant heat value'in the gas havingelectrically operatedmeans for controlling the leak valve;

Fig. 2 discloses another embodiment of the. apparatus havin a modifiedform of electrically operate valve actuating mechani m;*- p 7 Fig. 3{discloses still anotherembodiment 'Referring' to Fig. 1 ofthe drawing,l-is agasmain. his gas main may lead any suitable source of supply as,for instance', aga's producer or a source of supply "95 y of naturalgas. This invention-is by no its applicability to the ous fuel, but iscapable ofuse with any form ofgaseous fuel in: which it; is

supply through the main 1 and to force that gas-afterit leaves the pumpthrough the main- 3, which leads to any de ire'dfplace of ase.-,, Ih-iinvention has been gasf'producer, the pump a 2,

as illustrated," being. u'st' such a as is rawing I have illusseveralforms of mechanism for carryfrom PatentedMai 30,1922.

in which like charof reference designate like parts min which; the leakvalve is controlled by pressure opera-tedmeans.

-'tra'ted thegasin the main 1 is-drawn therea 2, which is I adapteddurmg operation to draw gas from the source of y -fo'r-usjein connectionv such a producer and for c. the producerthrough the gas I is toso treatthe gas as it passes ing calorimeter 4 bein place main main as to insurea constant there-in when delivered to its place of use.

a festive opening varied by means of the valve 6. Thisrport' the main,

main, but it is obvious Located in the main 1 is avport'5, theefithrough -which may be 5 islocated on thesuction side of the pump 2- andis controlled by the valve 6 that {p there will under all ordinaryconditions be a flow of diluting fluid therethrough into the'amount ofsuch flow being deplen'dent' upon hefefie'ctive openingthrough t eadapted to admit atmospheric air into-the that any form ofdiluting.fluid may ,beksubsti'tuted: therefor,

such for instance asexhaustgasesh 'The stem "7 of the valve 6l1soperatively' connected to the diaphragm 8 of the pressure operateddiaphragm regulator 9;. Surrounding the lstemjl cooperating with the.diaphragm 8 is a spring 10.norinally tending tourgethe'jvaltrefi-awajfrom its seat to increase the 'efiectiye open-ingthrough theport a pipe 11 adaptedto supply a pressure, fluid thereto'in'such gw ise'a's to act upon; the diaphragm8 and'exertla force thereontending'tos counteract the action of the spring 10. The 7 normaltendency of the spring 10 to urge the through-the pipes'12f and 1 phragm"regulator 9 being controlled by the, valve 13. {Leading' ofi' fromfthepipefl;

1 15 located therein. M

.lead ofl firom the diaphragm through the 4 pipe '11f"'the fluid; underpressure contained therein :to- -v t'ihu's valve 6 from the seat iscounteracted more or less completely by the fluid pressure introducedthroughthepipe 11, so that the LQdegree of opemng'of the upon therelative forcesxexerted' upon the opposite'sides of the diaphragm 8 'by'the spring and the pressure fluid, has opening thereinto a pipe 12 whichis connected "to any suitable source" of. fluid under' pressure,

sist of cylindrical metalliclmembers, located in enlargements; 1n the"pipes, 12l4j}con-" trolled thereby. Each of thesevalves isnon mallyheld against its respective seat 13 15'; y

the downward action of gravity.

heat value" ofpressure regulator illustrated is ort.- In ordinarypractice the port 5-is 'Qpen'ihginliothe diaphragm'regulator is valve 6will depend The-pipe '11' 'xflow of such fluid under pressure 11, intothe dia.

upon ,thediaphragm .3 1 e u v the thermostatic strip to d rangemen't ofthe f'valves in the pipes 12-44 such that they normally remain seated, v

unless positively moved upwardly from their seats, thus preventing flowinto the dia; phragm regulator. throughthe pipe 12,01 exhausttherefromthrough the pipe 14".

Leadingoif adapted to permit of flow there'through of a partof the"aspas'sing'through the main 3. Inserted int e pipe'17' is a pressureregulator 18 adapted" to maintain-a constant pressure I in the pipetherebeyond regardless'of fluctuations of pressure in the main 3. Thetype purely. conventional in structure and. any other de- I sired'typeof regulator may be used, the recise'form of regulator used beingvimmaterial inasmuch-as the structure thereof forms no part ofthe presentinvention. In-

.from the main 3 is a pipe 17- serted in the pipe\17 beyond the pressure'Attached to the free end of the plpe 17 is agas burn'er 21 of anydesired form, whichburner'extends inside the chamber 22, The side andbottom' walls of this chamberare closed except for certain air inletports23j in.-th'e".. bottom theieof for supplying sufli cientjquantity'of bustionof all gas passing through" the air to insurecomplete comburner The upper end of the chamber 22 isleft open so thatthe heated products of combustion resulting irombur mng thegaspassingwill pass upwardly through thechamber. .Located in the chamber22 in such wise as to be-acted upon by the heated gases; passingtherethrough is a thermostatic strip 24: attached to a bracket" 25 whichis insulated from the wallofthe chamber 22 by means ofthrough the pipe17 and burner 21 any desired insulating material 26: Pass ing'through'the wall of the chamber 22;;a re two contact elements 27 whichareinsulated "therefrom by means of insulating plugs 28.

The form of insulation shown inconnection" with" the thermostatic strip:24 and the con tact elements 27 is purely cgnv nti ngk d ny otherdesired ans or insulatinglthese element'smay' be employed. The "contactielements 27 extend' into the chamber.",9 2 and their -inn'er endsareilocatedf-adjacent' the free end of the thermostat'cf"stri- 24 andfiz o.

:upon opposite sides thereof. Anygincreases or? decreases in the amountofheat generated at "at the burner 21 will cause a deformation of onecontact elethermostatlc strip an'drthe relative. position;

of the two contact elements being rich-that actual jractice a veryslight deformation of the strlp ineither direction will cause it tocontact with-one of these elements.

ment or the other,the sensltiveness. of the 1 25 Surrounding each of theenlargements containing the valves '-13'-15 is a solenoid 29, thearrangement being such that each of' the valves constitutes .in'eifect'acore for its a the diaphragm regulator 9.

g the thermostatic to cause it to contact with either of the con-.

surrounding .solenoid, so that 'energiaing either solenoid will.causeaxial movement of' the valve co-operating therewith to lift thatvalve firom its seat and thus permit flow through the pipe controlledthereby.- Leading oiffrom the thermostatic strip 24 is a' I conductor30, connected with one. terminal of each of the-solenoids'29j Leadingoil" from one of the contact elements 27 is aconductor 31 and-leadingoff from .the other contact element 27 is a'conductor 32. The

conductor- 31 is connected to the other termi-- nal of one ofthe's'olenoids-29, while the conduct0r32 is connected to the otherterminal of the other solenoid 29. Located in each of the conductors 31and 32 is a battery 33.. From the above structure itisobvious-that whenstrip 24 is so deformed astact elements 27 {there will a flow of currentfrom the battery '33, co5operating'with that particular contact element27-, through the corresponding solenoid .29 "tdenergize that solenoidand causemovement of the 'valve co-operating therewith with an ensuingbuilding up or. dissipation of thepressure in Inasmuch as the -pressureregulator 18 and the constant orifice 20 insure t e delivery of aconstant quantity of gas to the burner 21, it is obvious that anyvariationsv in-th'e amount of heat generated at such burner'are due tovariations in the heat value of the gas. Any variations -,in thequantity of heat thus generated at'the burner 21 will efi'ect thethermostatic strip 24 to cause def-- ormatiop thereof toward one ortheother of the" contact elements 27. If variation th'e'amount ofheat-generated at the burner 21 occurs with consequent deformationof thethermostatic strip 24, there will be "a" the diaphragm 8, to thusincrease or decrease themfl'ective opening through the port 5 toincrease or decrease the quantity of air or other diluting fluid flowingthrough such .port into the main 1. Ifthe heat value therein. This valveIS'SlI'OWIi as of a'conventional i' reciprocating type; but any.otheropen that valve with acon'sequent'exhaust a port 5 and permittheadmissionof a greater ing of the fluid pressure in'the diaphragm 9' toincrease the effective opening through the quantity of diluting fluid tocut down the heat value of. the gas in the main. If the heat generatedat the burner 21 decreases, the thermostatic strip 21 .will contactwith;

the other element 27 to close the circuit through the solenoidcontrolling the valve 13 to open that valve and permit a greaterquantity of pressure fluid to flow therethrough-to bring about adecrease in the effective opening through the port .5jwith acorresponding decrease inthe amount of diluting fluid passingtherethrough, to thus valve 6 is adjustably mounted -on' its stem and isso set that a definite amount of dilut ing fluid is passing through theport 5 when i the gas in the ma1n3 is of the desiredheat value. By thushaving the port:6 normally open a predeterminedamount, it is possible topermit a decrease in'the effective opening th'erethrough,- as would bedesirable when,the heat value of the gas falls below normal, as well asan increase in the effective opening therethrough, as would be desirablewhere the heat value of the gas rises above normal.

In Fig. 2- is illustrated anotherform. of

apparatus which comprises modified means for controlling the valve 6. IIn this modification the gas mains are the same asillus trated in Fig. 1and have'a valve controlled leak port, similar to that described above,.co-operating with the main 1. Further-the calorimeter 22 and the meansfor supplying a constant quantity, ofgas to the burnerthereof are thesame 'as the corresponding mechanism illustrated and d scribed in-Fig.

given of these features 1 1. No further description is, therefore,

of the apparatus illustrated in; Fig.= 2, but they fhave been given'thesame' numerals the corresponding parts inFig-gl and their structure,operation and function will beapp-arentupon reference tothe' descriptionmatter above. 1

rot

.. 'Leadinginte the-diaphragm regulator 9: I

is a supp fluid under pressure by means of the-pipe 12.. Located in thepipe 12 and adapted to control flow thereth-rough is avalve-34 havpipe11 connected to a source of '1 ing an actuating handle 35 connectedthere}.

to Asshown this valve34'isaconventional turning pl'ug'but any othersuitable valve--. Leading oil" may be substituted therefor.

-'from the pipe 11 intermediate the valve 34 and the diaphragm regulator9 is an exhaust pipej36hav1ng-a controlling valve 37 located suitabley'form of valve may be substituted valve capable of I aflordin-g a nice Icontrol of flowthroug'h the pipe 36. If the effective openingthroughjthe valve 37 is kept con-,

stant, pressure on the diaphragm 8 may be varied as desired by increasng or decreasing the amount of pressure fluid flowing through -thelvalve34.-" ;In order to cont'rol the eftherefon-qit being merely necessarythat such valve 34 as to admit a relatively greater or less quantity ofpressurefluid therethrough.

.Located upon opposite sides of the actuating handle 35 are twosolenoids38. Each of these solenoids has therein a core 39, one end of which. isconnected to the actuating handle 35 by means of a link 40. Each of.

the links 40 is pivotally connected to the actuating handle 35 and toits co-op'erating core 39, these parts being so arranged that axialmovement of either core will cause a corresponding movement of theactuating handle .35 to vary the effective opening through the valve 345:The solenoids 38 are connected to the thermostatic strip 24 and contactelements 27, which are associated with the calorimeter 22, as describedin con- V nection with Fig. 1.

- 27 to thus close the circuit through one of f the solenoids 38 toenergize, that solenoid.

The operation of this modification is thought clear, If because of anyvariation in the heat value of the gas supplied to the burner 21agreater or less quantity of heat is generated in the calorimeter, thethernfostatic strip 24 will be deformed to cause contact thereof withone of the contact elements And energizing either of the solenoids willcause an axial movement'of the core 39b0- operating therewith to bringabout a corresponding movement of the valve. 34 which,-

by varying the pressure in the diaphragm regulator 9, will vary theeffective opening through the leak port 5. .It is obvious that thesolenoids are so coiin ectedto the batteries 33 that one solenoid whenenergized willtend to increase the effective openinglof .the 'valve -.34while the other solenoid w en energized will tend'to decrease theeffective opening-through this valve.

In Fig. 3 1 have shown still another modified form of my inventioninwhich pressure operated means is used for varying the. ef-.

fective opening through-theleak port 5. In the modification disclosedin-this figure the electrically operated actuating means is dispensedwith and in place thereofa closed vessel 41 is located'within thecalorimeter 22 in such wiseasto be subjected to the heat of combustionat the burner'21. Thevessel 41 tions.

may containa gas or vapor therein, or, if desired, a fluid which willreadily vaporize at the temperature existent in the calorimeter. Anyvariation in.the amount of heatto which the vessel41 is subjected, will,therefore, result in an expansion of the gas vapor therein, or, where aliquid is used, in the generation of an increased quantity of vapor,which. WIll cause an increase of pressure within the vessel. This-vesselhas leading off therefrom a pipe 42, the free end of which opens into abellows like chamber 43 adapted to expand or contract, i. e., toincrease or 'decreasein length, according asithe pressure thereinincreases or decre'ase s. And any positive lever-controlling alsoincrease. I

of heat generated in the calorimeter 22 will the effective openingthrough the port 5.

such increase or decrease of pressure in the bellows like member 43 Wlllresult from corresponding variations of pressure in the vessel 41 dueto' the variations in the amountofheat generatedat theburner 2-1.Pivotally attached to .the free endofthe member 43 by means of-a link 44isa lever the lever 45 is a'bell crank lever, 47, one arm of which ispivotally connected by means of a link 48 to' the adjacent end of thelever 45, the other arm being operatively connected to theste'm of thevalve 6 .by' means of -,a

'link 49. In this form ofapparatus the dia-.

'45 fulcrnmed at'.46 to some fixed part of v the apparatus. Pivotallymounted adjacent v phragm regulator 9 for controlling the valve 6 isdispensed with, as are also the various parts of the apparatus necessaryfor controlling the supply of pressure fluid to that diaphragm regulatorin order to bring about the desired. actuation of the valve 6. In placeof this diaphragm regulator and cooperating mechanism, I havesubstituted the mechanism described above. v

If the heat value of the gas flowing through, the'main 3 increases it isevident that the heat generated at the burner'21 will This increasein-the amount cause an increase of pressure in the Yvess'el 41, which,acting'through the pipe 42, will ,also cause an increase of pressure inthe bellows like member43, with a consequent elongation 'of'that member.Such elongation of themember 43 will cause a rotation ofthe lever 45about its fulcrum 46 to rock the bell crank lever '47, with a consequentactuationof the valve 6 ,to increase the efiective opening through theport 5. And obviously any decrease in the amount of heat generated atthe burner 21 will cause a rocking of the bell crank'lever 47, with acorresponding actuation of the valve 6 to decrease mounted on its stemso thatit may be readily moved axially thereof. After-being set, if anyvariationfinthe heatvalueof the gas occurs the controlling apparatuswill automatically actuate the valve to admit a greater or less quantityof diluting fluidto thus return the heat value to normal. Each of theforms of apparatus illustrated is thus entirely automatic inaction sothat a constant heat va-lu .,e will be'insur'e'd in the de liveredgasr'egardless' of fluctuations therein at the time of leavingitssource."

From the above description it is evident that I have invented a verysimple and practical method ofinsuring a substantially constant heatvalue in a gaseous or vaporous fuel, and effective apparatus forcarrying that method into operation. \Vhile I have illustrated severalsuch -'forms of apparatus my invention is by no means limited to theprecise structural details herein disclosed,- inasmuch as numerousmodifications might be made without in any way departing from the spiritof that'invention. For a definition of the scope of my invention,therefore, refer-- ence should be had, to the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a device for maintaining a substan'- tially constant heat value ina fluid conveying means; the combination of a valve'for admitting adiluent to the fluid within the main; pressure operated means. forcontrolling said valve; electrically operated means for controlling thepressure operating said pressure operated means; meansv for with 5O ofthe pump for controlling a port in the drawing from the main a constantquanti t of the diluted fluid; means for burning suc Withdrawn fluid,and means responsive to variations in the heat generated by the burningfluid adapted to. actuate the electrically operated means to vary theamount of dilu-- ent admitted to accord with yariations 'in the heatgenerated by the burning fluid.

2. In a device for maintaining a constant heat value in a gas, thecombination of a gas conveying main; a pump for forcing the gas throughthe main; a valve controlled leak port connecting the inside of themain, in

advance of the pump, with the atmosphere;

. 3. In a device for maintaining a constant heat value n a fluid, thecombinationof a conveying main; a pump for forcing the.

fluid through the main; a valve in advance controlling means to accordwith variati' main through which a diluentmay be admitted to the fluidwithin the main; pressure operated means for actuating said valve;electrically operatedmeans for varying the pressure operating the saidactuating means; means beyond the pump through "which a constantquantity of the diluted fluid will pass out "of themain; means in whichsuchifluid may be burned; and means, responsive to any fluctuationsgenerated by the burned fluid, adapted to cause functioning of theelectrically operated means to vary the openlng ofsaidvalve; to accordwith suchfluctuations. j 1 p 4. In a device formaintaininga constantheat value in a fluid, the combination of a conveying main; a pumpfor.forcing fluid through the-main; avalve controlling a port in the main,through which a diluent may be admitted into the-main;"press'ureresponsive means for actuating said valve ;:;means for controlling thepressure upon such ctuating means; a fluid burner; means to said burneradapted to actuate the'pre in the heat'ge'nerated at the'bu rner',

' 5. In a device for maintaining a co conveying, main; a pump forforcing the fluid'through the ma n; a valve controlling a port in themain, through which 'a-diluent may be admitted into'the main pressureresponslve means for. actuatlng said valve;.

electrically operated valve mechanism for controlling the pressure uponsuch actuating means; a fluid burner; means for continuously deliveringa constant quantity of fluid to the. burner thermostatic meansassociated with such burner and-responsive to variations in the heat.generated by the fluid burned thereat; said thermostatic meansconstituting a control for the electrically-operated valve mechanismwhereby said mechavariations 1n the burner. j v y In testimony whereof Iaflix my si nature. HARRY F'.,S M%ITH.

, nsaihti heat value in a fluid; the combination lot a' e r ne aconstant quantity of fluid tothefburnerfp and heat responsive meansassociated nism is caused to vary thefunctioningof the pressureresponsive means to accord with heat generated at the I v

